"Kakashi!"
Jiraiya's voice boomed with anger.
Kakashi merely smirked. "All I can say, Jiraiya, is that you're just lighting a candle in the wind."
Jiraiya opened his mouth to retort, but before he could, another voice rang out.
"I told you not to stop me!"
Bang!
Before Jiraiya could react, he was sent flying like a cannonball.
Crack—
Several ribs shattered upon impact.
"Lady Tsunade, wait!" someone called.
"Wait a minute!" another pleaded.
"How dare you target my disciple? I'll beat you so badly, you won't even be able to take care of yourself! Kushina, tie him up!"
"Yes!" Kushina responded immediately.
Golden chains—Adamantine Sealing Chains—shot forward, binding Jiraiya and dragging him toward Tsunade, who stood with her arms crossed.
Jiraiya's eyes widened as he looked at the three figures in front of him.
"Minato… Kushina… And… Tsunade? You?"
The only response he got was Tsunade's fist smashing into his face.
Minato sighed and shook his head. "Kakashi, your situation is different."
"Minato-sensei… I…"
Minato simply gave him a knowing look, ending the discussion before it could start.
Meanwhile, Naruto took out his shriveled little frog wallet and frowned.
Temari stood nearby, still holding a hairpin in her hand.
"Ahem… I'll get you something better next time," Naruto muttered. He vaguely recalled that his mother still had plenty of nice things tucked away somewhere.
But right now… this was embarrassing.
Before he could say anything else, a red blur launched toward him.
Looking down, he saw the familiar face of Karin, who had left with Minato and Kushina the night before.
"Master~!" she called excitedly.
Not far behind, a woman with long red hair, bearing a striking resemblance to Karin, approached them.
Upon reaching Naruto, she lowered her head respectfully.
"Greetings, Clan Head."
…What?
Naruto tightened his grip on the little frog wallet, feeling a little awkward.
He just happened to be standing in front of a jewelry store.
"Uzumaki habits…" he muttered under his breath.
"Just a fox demon… why—"
Before the shopkeeper could finish his sentence, Gaara appeared in front of Tsunade, his eyes filled with unmasked cruelty.
"I don't want it anymore!" Temari suddenly threw the hairpin back, grabbing Gaara's arm and pulling him away. "Don't be impulsive."
Gaara listened to his sister's words, but his stare remained menacing.
Naruto sighed. "Karin, take your mother back first. She shouldn't be moving around too much. She needs to rest."
He then turned his gaze toward Karin's mother.
"Master, my name is Uzumaki Mina."
"Mina, you and Karin should go back for now. Your condition is still poor."
As he spoke, Naruto placed his hands on Mina's shoulders. Under her shocked gaze, a warm, vibrant energy flowed into her body, filling her with newfound vitality.
"Clan Head… I understand. Karin, let's go back and see Lady Kushina and Lord Minato first."
"Brother Naruto, I'll see you later," Karin said before leaving.
Naruto turned back to the store owner, his gaze cold.
How could anyone think he couldn't afford a few simple trinkets?
"Kojiro," Naruto called, his voice carrying through the air. "I don't want to see this shop operating in Konoha anymore."
Nearby, a newly promoted Special Jonin named Kojiro immediately bowed upon hearing Naruto's telepathic message.
"Also, conduct a thorough investigation into the assets controlled by the ninja clans. Let everyone know—it's time to start harvesting from the margins."
The shopkeeper scoffed as Naruto left, unaware of his impending fate.
"Oh well," Naruto muttered. "One more debt doesn't make a difference."
Catching up to Gaara and Temari, Naruto suddenly pulled out a golden and jade hairpin as if by magic.
"This one should look better, right?"
Temari blinked in surprise. "Is… this for me?"
"Of course. It suits the daughter of the Kazekage."
A rare smile spread across Temari's face. "Thank you, Naruto… It's beautiful."
She carefully tucked it away, treasuring the gift.
Naruto, however, couldn't help but wonder—Does she even need a hairpin with four ponytails?
As they walked, Gaara suddenly spoke.
"You and I are the same kind," he said. "That man from earlier—his eyes were full of hatred and curses. Why do I not see the same in yours?"
Temari's heart trembled, and she glanced at Naruto with newfound curiosity.
Naruto smiled. "Would you feel hatred toward a piece of trash that's already doomed?"
Gaara and Temari were taken aback.
"He's not going to die from this," Gaara pointed out.
"Is death the most painful punishment?" Naruto countered.
Gaara fell silent.
"I don't feel any emotion in you… If we are the same, then why—?"
"Because I'm strong enough. And besides, Kurama is much better company than Shukaku."
"As far as temperament goes, my little fox is actually pretty cute. And in terms of power… well, let's just say, it's discouraging for the other tailed beasts."
"Also… isn't Shukaku the only one who actually uses ninjutsu? Do the other tailed beasts even need it to fight?"
AHHHHH!!!
Shukaku's defenses crumbled.
Gaara narrowed his eyes. "I'm the only one who can deal with a monster like you. Your existence unsettles me… I will kill you."
Gaara's murderous intent exploded.
"Haha, Shukaku," Kurama laughed inside Naruto's mind. "Naruto has a point. Only the weak need ninjutsu."
"Did I hear that right?! That fox, who thinks more tails means more power, is siding with a Jinchūriki? This is ridiculous!"
"Says the beast who doesn't even trust his Jinchūriki," Kurama shot back. "That's why you'll never match us."
"WHAT DID YOU SAY?!"
A red chakra claw flickered into existence, forming around Naruto's stomach and reaching for Gaara—but it disappeared in an instant.
Gaara froze. "You—"
Naruto chuckled. "Me? Don't act so surprised. I do what I want now. You wouldn't understand, sewer rat."
Shukaku's defense shattered completely.
Gaara was lost—he had never seen his inner monster fail so completely.
Naruto turned to leave, but Gaara suddenly called out.
"Temari, that gift he gave you… it's valuable. We of the Sand don't take handouts."
"I'm hungry."
Gaara's words left Naruto momentarily stunned.
Even Temari, who understood him well, was taken aback.
But to be fair, both Konoha and Sunagakure had no shortage of attractive men and women.
Even Chiyo, despite her aged appearance now, had been a great beauty in her youth. But let's not dwell on that.
Naruto didn't refuse and chose to take them to Shikamaru's family's barbecue restaurant.
During the meal, Temari boldly asked him once again if he was free tonight.
She had guts.
Unlike Ino, who only talked big but was actually shyer than Hinata, Temari followed through.
Gaara, on the other hand, barely spoke a word.
Even as they parted ways, he remained silent.
Naruto paused, looked at the two siblings, and suddenly said:
"Your father, the Fourth Kazekage, is dead."
Temari's eyes widened, but Naruto continued without giving her a chance to react.
"I personally suggest you aim for the position of the Fifth Kazekage."
"Also, your Jonin instructor, Baki… do as he advises. If you cooperate, after the plan, Konoha and Sunagakure will still be allies."
"You should understand that when I say 'allies,' I don't mean a one-sided arrangement where only one side benefits."
With that, Naruto turned and left.
Temari and Gaara stood frozen in place.
"…Father is dead?"
They exchanged glances, neither feeling sadness—just shock.
"There's no reason for Uzumaki Naruto to lie to us," Temari said slowly after a moment.
Gaara nodded slightly.
"The Fifth Kazekage… does he want me to fight for it?"
"That's right. If our father is dead, you're the most suitable candidate."
Temari's voice carried absolute certainty.
Gaara looked at her and fell silent.
Then, the voice of Shukaku echoed in his mind:
"Oi, brat! That kid doesn't sound like he's lying."
"From what that damn fox said… that brat's probably way stronger than you by now."
"If you want to be Kazekage… I can stop causing you trouble, but I have one condition!"
"…What is it?"
"Have you seen your sister?"
"To put it in human words… she's fallen for him. Send her to gather intel on the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. I have a feeling that stinky fox is hiding a lot from me… Damn it, how is it playing dead again?!"
Gaara: "…"
He turned to Temari.
She was still watching Naruto's back as he disappeared into the distance.
She only looked away reluctantly once he was completely out of sight.
"Oi! Brat! I'm talking to you!" Shukaku's voice rang out impatiently.
Gaara responded in his mind: "I heard you."
Inside the sealed space, Shukaku blinked in surprise.
How long had it been since this brat actually answered him?
"Hmph, as long as you listen, we can work something out."
"…Let's go, sister."
Temari hesitated before nodding. "Alright."
Gaara narrowed his eyes slightly.
After parting ways, Naruto ran into the Third Hokage.
He highly doubted it was a coincidence.
"Naruto, you did well in the Chunin Exams."
Naruto remained expressionless.
"What's wrong? Did something upset you?" Hiruzen asked with his usual kind smile.
But upon closer inspection, his face seemed paler than usual—likely due to exhaustion.
At that moment, a ninja rushed over.
"Hokage-sama, another batch of documents needs your review!"
"Come back with me."
Without waiting for a response, the ninja grabbed Hiruzen's sleeve and dragged him away.
As they walked off, the ninja suddenly turned and looked at Naruto with an intense gaze.
"You are the pillar of this village. Without you, Konoha would struggle to function."
"So, don't sneak out again next time."
Then, he turned back and continued talking to the Hokage.
Naruto watched them disappear down the street and slowly withdrew his cold gaze.
There was no need to put on an act anymore.
In a month, distinguished guests from all over would be arriving in Konoha. Even if the Hokage suspected something, he wouldn't have time to act on it.
In fact, Hiruzen hadn't confronted Naruto in a long, long time.
He was too busy.
Even his "surveillance tools" had gathered dust.
Night fell.
Temari let down her ponytail and used the hairpin Naruto had given her to style her hair in an unfamiliar fashion.
Sitting on a bench outside the inn, she was so nervous that she could hear her own heartbeat.
Upstairs, Gaara watched her from the window.
Kankuro, meanwhile, was fiddling with his puppets.
Half an hour passed.
Temari's flushed cheeks gradually cooled, and her heartbeat returned to normal.
Gaara's expression darkened slightly.
Kankuro yawned, gave up on tinkering with his puppet, and sprawled onto the bed in an ungraceful sleeping position.
An hour passed.
Temari occasionally glanced at the busy street in the distance, then lowered her head so no one could see her expression.
Gaara frowned.
Another fifteen minutes went by before Temari suddenly stood up.
Gaara narrowed his eyes and, without a word, tossed Kankuro—still asleep—out of the room.
He turned back around, intending to act natural so Temari wouldn't notice he had been watching her.
But then, a figure appeared in front of him.
"I accept."
Shukaku: "???"
Brat, are you crazy?
In the time that followed, neither Nagato-sama nor Kushina returned.
Tsunade, however, stormed back the next day, her expression thunderous.
Without saying a word, she grabbed Naruto and dragged him to the kitchen.
Then, as if nothing had happened, she called over Kurenai and Anko to drink with her. She never explained what had angered her so much—she simply poured drinks and expected the others to join in.
By the end of the night, she had taken over Naruto's bed.
At that moment, Naruto suddenly understood why his mother had the personality she did.
A month passed in the blink of an eye.
What was destined to happen had finally arrived.
Nagato-sama and Kushina returned just before the third exam, both of them looking unsettled. The plans were all in place, but one thing had not gone as expected—the Death Mask sacrifice had failed.
Naruto reassured them, telling them not to worry. He promised that after the plan was completed, he would attempt it himself and guaranteed that there would be no danger.
"Seriously... I don't know where Kurama has disappeared to. He doesn't even seem concerned about his Yin half," Kushina muttered, rubbing her temples.
"By the way, where is Tsunade? She's been missing too."
She turned to Kurenai and Anko, who quickly shook their heads.
"Shizune isn't here either… Well, at least Tsunade still knows how to be gentle," Kushina sighed.
Then, as if remembering something, she turned to Naruto. "Naruto, did you see the clothes your mother knitted for you?"
Naruto blinked. "She made something for me?"
He had assumed the handmade gifts were only for the girls.
"Of course! I thought you already knew. It's been under the cabinet this whole time. I'll wash it for you—you should wear your mother's love-filled jersey for the competition tomorrow."
As Kushina stood up, intending to retrieve the clothing, Kurenai and Anko immediately grabbed her, nervously pulling her back into her seat.
"Sister~" they chimed in unison.
"Naruto has been acting unruly lately. A girl from the Sand Village visited our home a few days ago!"
"What?!"
Kushina's eyes widened before narrowing at her son. "Naruto... when did you... get me a daughter-in-law?"
Everyone: "???"
The next day.
"Sasuke, you can't be lazy today!" Naruto called out.
"I know, I know, just open the door already."
With a creak, the massive gates of Konoha swung open. Soon, the daimyos and high-ranking ninja from various nations began to arrive.
Some sat in extravagant palanquins, carried by servants, while others walked in with entourages of elite shinobi. Their attire was ornate and prestigious, a clear display of their status—far beyond what commoners or lower-ranking ninja would wear.
To honor the significance of the Chunin Exams, the Hokage had risen early that morning. With dark circles under his eyes, he personally greeted the distinguished guests in front of the exam venue.
Before long, the spectator stands were packed with noble figures from across the shinobi world.
"Sister, aren't you coming to watch the matches with me and Father?" Hanabi asked, looking up at Hinata.
"No, I have plans to go with Ino and the others today," Hinata replied with a small smile.
Hanabi huffed. "Then I'll just go with you! Let Father watch by himself."
With that, she grabbed Hinata's hand and pulled her along, stepping past the gates of the Hyuga estate.
Outside, Ino and Sakura were already waiting.
"Finally! Took you long enough," Ino teased.
"Let's hurry and grab a good spot before the crowd gets too big," Sakura added.
"Mmm. My dear is looking extra handsome today~" Ino sang, giggling.
"Huh?" Hanabi tilted her head.
Sakura raised a brow. "Hinata, who's this little one?"
"I'm Hanabi! Hinata's younger sister!" Hanabi announced proudly.
As the sun climbed higher in the sky, the gates to the Chunin Exam stadium swung open, and crowds of ninja and civilians alike flooded in, eager for the spectacle to begin.
Shiranui Genma, the proctor, scanned the gathered genin, his ever-present senbon shifting in his mouth as he muttered, "You all remember your match order, right?"